Another race, another cold day! I’m looking forward to not having to bundle up when running.

I love my Buff hats and neck warmer, but I will be glad to ditch them for the summer!

On Saturday, I took part in the Runnin’ of the Green in downtown Rochester. It’s a 5 mile (8 km) race along the Genesee River. Saturday was cold, but at least it was nice and sunny! Still, I’m looking forward to not having to bundle up when running. My Dad came out to cheer me on and hang out beforehand and afterwards — it’s always great having somebody there waiting for me at the finish line!

My knees have been bothering me a little lately, so I taped them and decided to take it a bit easier for this one. No sense doing something stupid and injuring myself!

My placement results aren’t quite as high as some of my recent races, but I’m quite pleased with my performance. Especially considering it was a longer (8 km vs 5 km) race.

20°F/-7°C — sounds like perfect weather for a run, right? Well, at least it was nice and sunny!

Nix always ensures that my gear is safe and sound before every race

This morning I ran in the Cupid’s Cup 5K in nearby Irondequoit. My wife and daughter braved the cold to cheer me on, as did my mom and dad, who I was surprised to see there just as I was heading out to the starting line.

A red bib for me, as I am most definitely already taken!

A few of the side roads had some icy patches, but overall, the conditions were pretty decent.

I told myself that I was going to really push myself today. And, I did.

Yesterday evening, a water main in our neighborhood broke, causing us to lose water pressure. It was repaired quickly, but we need to boil water for 24–26 hours, as there is a change that “untreated water and harmful microbes” could have entered the water supply.

Having to use boiled (or bottled) water not only for drinking, but for cooking, cleaning, and brushing teeth was really starting to annoy me. And then, as I was cleaning dishes, the phrase “first world problem” came to mind. First, as a joke. And then, it hit me just how lucky I really am. So many people across the world would love to have such a minor inconvenience as this with water. I can still turn on the tap in my comfortable kitchen to get what would pass as “clean” water, “freely” flowing. And, carry that water all of two feet to my electric stovetop to easily boil it, just to make sure.

So, I went to charity: water, a cause my daughter first brought to my attention a few years ago, and made another donation.